1. The Life and Times of Mohammed Norman Ralph

2. Why this talk? To look at the history and culture of the Persian Gulf at the time of Mohammed. To look at the history and culture of the Persian Gulf at the time of Mohammed. To put the Islamic faith in an historic content. To put the Islamic faith in an historic content. To improve our understanding of the zeitgeist that facilitated the spread of Islam in the years after Mohammed. To improve our understanding of the zeitgeist that facilitated the spread of Islam in the years after Mohammed.

3. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah – Vital Statistics Circa. 570 CE – June 8 th, 632 CE. Circa. 570 CE – June 8 th, 632 CE. Born in Mecca, Arabia. Born in Mecca, Arabia. Worked as a shepherd. Worked as a shepherd. Retreated to a cave to meditate. Retreated to a cave to meditate. Received his first message from God on his 40 th birthday. Received his first message from God on his 40 th birthday. Travelled to Medina. Travelled to Medina. United the tribes. United the tribes. Died in Medina. Died in Medina.

4. Arabia at the time of the Prophet

5. Pre-Islamic Arabia Hundreds of tribes spread right across the Arabian peninsula from Egypt in the West to Jordan and Syria in the North Hundreds of tribes spread right across the Arabian peninsula from Egypt in the West to Jordan and Syria in the North Split between nomadic bedouins and sedentary farmers. Split between nomadic bedouins and sedentary farmers. Agriculture based on oases, focussed around Medina. Agriculture based on oases, focussed around Medina. Trade centre was Mecca on the coast. Trade centre was Mecca on the coast.

6. Mohammed – The Early Years Born into the powerful Banu Hashim family in Mecca. Born into the powerful Banu Hashim family in Mecca. Was orphaned at 2, went to live with a variety of guardians. Was orphaned at 2, went to live with a variety of guardians. Learned to be a commercial trader, operating throughout Arabia and Syria. Learned to be a commercial trader, operating throughout Arabia and Syria.

7. His first marriage Gained the reputation as a fair and trustworthy man. Gained the reputation as a fair and trustworthy man. Received proposal of marriage from Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a 40 year old widow in 595 CE. Received proposal of marriage from Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, a 40 year old widow in 595 CE. Had a happy marriage until her death in 619 CE (24years). Had a happy marriage until her death in 619 CE (24years). They had 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls*. They had 6 children, 2 boys and 4 girls*. During this marriage, Mohammed did not take any other wives. During this marriage, Mohammed did not take any other wives.

8. The beginnings of Islam According to the Qu’ran Mohammed decided to leave his family in Meccah and travel to remote cave in the mountains. According to the Qu’ran Mohammed decided to leave his family in Meccah and travel to remote cave in the mountains. Here he meditated and on his 40 th birthday he received his first message from God. Here he meditated and on his 40 th birthday he received his first message from God. He lived in the cave until sometime during 619 CE, the year his wife died. He lived in the cave until sometime during 619 CE, the year his wife died. The majority of Mohammed’s understanding of Islam was gained whilst in the cave. The majority of Mohammed’s understanding of Islam was gained whilst in the cave.

9. Mohammed in Medina Following the death of his first wife, Mohammed left his cave and left Meccah for Medina. Following the death of his first wife, Mohammed left his cave and left Meccah for Medina. It was here that Mohammed began teaching Islam and stories og his message started to spread. It was here that Mohammed began teaching Islam and stories og his message started to spread. Mohammed united the various factions in Medina under his banner, promising prosperity and an eternal life more glorious than the competing Zionist faiths. Mohammed united the various factions in Medina under his banner, promising prosperity and an eternal life more glorious than the competing Zionist faiths.

10. The Fall of Meccah After uniting Medina, Mohammed set his sights on the economic centre of Arabia. After uniting Medina, Mohammed set his sights on the economic centre of Arabia. Mohammed and his followers entered Meccah and, according to legend, when Meccah’s elders saw Mohammed’s righteousness they capitulated and handed Meccah to Mohammed. Mohammed and his followers entered Meccah and, according to legend, when Meccah’s elders saw Mohammed’s righteousness they capitulated and handed Meccah to Mohammed. This is the official start of Islam, year 0 in their calendar. This is the official start of Islam, year 0 in their calendar.

11. The spread of Islam Following the bloodless fall of Meccah, many of the powerful tribes started to unite under Mohammed. Following the bloodless fall of Meccah, many of the powerful tribes started to unite under Mohammed. Mohammed began teaching Islam to more and more tribes, forming a united polity under Islam’s banner. Mohammed began teaching Islam to more and more tribes, forming a united polity under Islam’s banner. For the next thousand years, the Islamic “nation” spread the words of Mohammed through trade routes and conquest. For the next thousand years, the Islamic “nation” spread the words of Mohammed through trade routes and conquest.

12. Mohammed after Allah Little secular history exists of Mohammed after the fall of Meccah and it is incredibly difficult to separate fact from legend and myth. Little secular history exists of Mohammed after the fall of Meccah and it is incredibly difficult to separate fact from legend and myth. The only contemporary sources for Mohammed are the Qu’ran and Suffah (the actions of Mohammed). The only contemporary sources for Mohammed are the Qu’ran and Suffah (the actions of Mohammed).

13. Mohammed the Myth The mythology of Mohammed includes things like his marriage to many wives, including the 6 year old with whom he consummated his marriage at 9. The mythology of Mohammed includes things like his marriage to many wives, including the 6 year old with whom he consummated his marriage at 9. Much of Mohammed’s tale is remarkably similar to that of Jesus from Christian mythology. Much of Mohammed’s tale is remarkably similar to that of Jesus from Christian mythology.

14. Mohamed vs Jesus Orpaned and lived in the desert. Orpaned and lived in the desert. Worked as a trader until he was 25. Worked as a trader until he was 25. Lived in a cave meditating until he found his faith. Lived in a cave meditating until he found his faith. Spread his message from God, uniting the families of Medina. Spread his message from God, uniting the families of Medina. Entered Meccah and recognised as a leader of his people. Entered Meccah and recognised as a leader of his people. Died before he could see the spread of his faith. Died before he could see the spread of his faith. Exiled from his home when young. Exiled from his home when young. Lived as a carpenter during his formative years. Lived as a carpenter during his formative years. Spent time meditating and finding his faith in the desert. Spent time meditating and finding his faith in the desert. Preached to his flock, uniting believers. Preached to his flock, uniting believers. Entered the religious capitol as King. Entered the religious capitol as King. Died before his religion could spread. Died before his religion could spread.

15. Questions?